Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, health and religion.

The population reached nearly quarter of a million

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Stoke-on-Trent increased by 3.5%, from just under 241,000 to 249,000.

The addition of just under 8,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Stoke-on-Trent was home to, on average, 19 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Stoke-on-Trent

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Stoke-on-Trent increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This multi-cultural area had a slightly lower average age than the West Midlands and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 4,700 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 4,000.

About 15% of people in Stoke-on-Trent are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Stoke-on-Trent by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent saw the West Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.1%) in Stoke-on-Trent reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.7% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.5% to 4.9%.

Across the region, only Wolverhampton saw a greater fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 6.8% to 6.2%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent saw the West Midlands' second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) people aged 16 and over in Stoke-on-Trent said they were single, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 49% to 44%.

Across the region, only Worcester saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 30% to 37%).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 29% to 34%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stoke-on-Trent residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13% to 8.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of Stoke-on-Trent residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the West Midlands. As a result, this area had the region’s highest proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad and the lowest proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stoke-on-Trent decreased by 4.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stoke-on-Trent, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

Stoke-on-Trent saw the West Midlands' joint second-largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, alongside Dudley. The largest rise was seen in Lichfield

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households in Stoke-on-Trent had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.7% in 2001. The percentage with just one person increased from 32% to 33%.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 7.9% to 9.6%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Stoke-on-Trent increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stoke-on-Trent, the West Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

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